SA braai masters go all out to spice up Namibia
THE South African Braai Mafia travelled to Namibia this week to participate in the annual NLU Agribraai for the first time.
They went prepared for victory with Pietermaritzburg’s staple seasoning from Hlophe Butcheries.
The team consisting of four members including Hlophe Butcheries CEO Mduduzi Hlophe and season six winner of Ultimate Braai Master, Corné Bornman, travelled thousands of kilometres to Mariental, Namibia.
Thirty teams took part in the competition on Friday and yesterday with the winning agricultural team walking away with N$300 000 (R300 000) and an opportunity to host next year’s event, which will bring an influx of visitors to their area.
Bornman, the team captain, told the Sunday Tribune this week that they enjoyed the trip to Namibia and that one of their main goals was to make new friends.
Their three-course menu prepared on the fire consisted of a starter, a main course of springbok with mealie meal and sweet potato roosterkoek, as well as a dessert.
“We were part of the event for the first time and we asked Mduduzi Hlophe to come on board as our main sponsor to help us to make this possible,” Bornman said. “We were prepared enough but it came down to the best on the day. We went there first to meet people, we smiled and we went in as humble as possible.”
Other sponsors were Kakiebos, Van’s Brand Slaghuis, Clean Heat Charcoal, Insane Auto Services, as well as WM Trading Enterprises.
Bornman said there was also a koeksister competition but the main feature for farmers’ wives was the make-up session where professional artists taught them about glamming up.
The Hlophe brand has been a household name since 1957, when the family opened the doors of their first meat business. Decades later, the seasoning was introduced and was followed by the chilli sauce.
Although the seasoning was primarily created for red meat, it can also be used with both white and red meat and for cooking various dishes.
The family now owns 60 meat businesses in KZN and Gauteng, which sell their products.
Major supermarkets have also become recent stockists of the sauce and seasoning.
“Our grill spice is unique in that it has minimal salt and is of great quality,” said Hlophe.
Plans to open a one-stop shop for spices in Pietermaritzburg are in the pipeline. The Spiced Up Shop will provide various Hlophe spices and sauces and will have a culinary studio.
“Our Pietermaritzburg culinary studio will be available for hire. We will allow chefs to teach young and eager individuals with a passion to learn culinary arts.
“The studio will also be available for cooking events and competitions and it will be open to all,” said Hlophe.
“It’s going to be a first of its kind. We want people to know that they will now be getting spices suitable for their palates and traditional foods.”
The Braai Mafia are expected return to the country this week.